The past week

I guess it has been a full week since I have blogged! Sorry, the internet hasn't been very good this week.

Wednesday Blessed and I went to check on the twins that we did not get. They live in a slum in Kampala that smells like a barnyard. There are chickens and geese running around and children yelling "Hi Muzungu. How are you?" We got there by taking a boda boda and two public taxis. However, the mother and the twins were not home. So we trekked back to the spot where the vaco would pick us up and take us back to the taxi park in Kampala. When I say taxi park I mean public bus park.

Public transportation works differently. A van that holds 14 passengers is called public transport, vaco, or taxi. A taxi like in America is called a special hire and is expensive, about 12,000 ush from Kampala to Entebbe, or to the airport.

So Blessed and I shopped for souveniers and ate some local food at a nearby restaurant. I ate the pillao, which was delicious, but I gave my piece of goat to Blessed. I am not partial to goat. The aunt of the mother called to say that the twins were back home and we could come. So we bussed it back to the slums and met with the mother.

The place where they reside is no bigger than 10ft x 10ft. It consists of boards nailed to two by fours with cracks for ventilation. She lays her head directly under a tree that drops its leaves on the tin roof. When it rains water flows over the dirt flood and creates a muddy mess. She lets the twins sleep on the mattress and she stands all night. The purpose of the trip was to bring clothes and a few blankets to her. She was very grateful and appreciative and was thanking me instead of Blessed for the gifts. I had no part in it, but to accompany Blessed and see how Acacia Tree can help families and when they can stay with families instead of coming to the rehabilitation center.

On the way back Blessed talked to me about helping her get better housing and a bed. I think that is a dangerous raod to head down. Many children grow up in those slums healthy and many of them are happy. Not only does that go outside the scope of Acacia Tree at this time it also makes the families dependent on aid from us. Obtaining better living conditions for someone that has a very limited income means that the Organization would have to keep up the monthly rent.

There is a book I have been told to read and will look for it next time I am in Kampala, When helping hurts.



Friday, Sarah Bella, Rayah and I made chocolate chip cookies! School here starts Monday. I made two spreadsheets and I am working on Robin's filing system. We are on African time so things get done slower and are not expected to be expedited in any fashion. All though I feel that I should have gotten more done over the last three weeks; Robin feels that I have been doing more than expected.

It is almost the end of the month and Blessed and I will be checking on babies in the community again. This is actually my favorite part! I am pleased to see that all of the babies that we visited last time were healthy and with their families. I was especially excited to hear that the grandmother of Anesha is teaching other mothers in her community what Acacia Tree has taught her about feeding and keeping her child at a healthy weight. She isn't receiving any incentive from Acacia Tree, other than the monthly pooridge and sugar that all families on the program get, but is teaching to educate others and share her knowledge. She is a prime example of how we envisioned ATECOP (Acacia Tree Education and Community Outreach Program).


Today, was my day off again. So I decided to hit the pool! It costs 10,000 USH but I have a very uneven burn and wanted to at least be burnt and tan instead of burnt and white. It was a very nice and hot day. The temperature now feels like Africa. Before it felt as if it was a Portland Spring.

A day of Rest and Relaxation

Picture of Comfort (Blessed's niece and Zach, the boy who we needed a care order for)

Today is R&R day. I finally am just bummn' around backpackers today :)

I was going to go to the pool, but I can just lay outside and start working on tanning my legs that way for FREE!!! I have met quite a few people over the past two weeks. They come and go and I am still here. One man is biking Uganda as a test run from Amsterdam to Capetown! His bike is lost right now, but hopefully will be on the next plane into Entebbe.

While in Kabale I bought 36 yards of fabric. I am going to make some wraps and hope that it won't make my luggage too heavy on the journey back. Also there were tons of bats! The Pictureto the left are bats, bats, and more bats!

The people who run backpackers are very nice and are trying to teach me new Luchiga words. Luchiga is the language that is spoken in parts of Western Uganda and in Kabale. This morning I learned, "Wali ota", which means "good morning". However the spelling might be off. I am also trying to learn Luganda, which is spoken mostly in Central Uganda and Entebbe. I only know "Webale", "Thank you" , "Oli Otya", "How are you" and "Gyendi" "I am fine." I am sure that the staff here will help me with my Luchiga, teaching me new words each day. I need to make flash cards to remind myself.

On another note, Acacia Tree did not ge the twins from Kampala. Robin felt that although they live in a room about 10ft x10ft, the mother is breastfeeding and finding alternate resources and has a small business. The twins are a little underweight but not malnourished, and twins are generally underweight when born. The only trouble would be if they needed injections or antibiotics everyday. There could be funding available for those. Injections at a small little clinic cost around 1,500 USh (exchange rate last time I checked was 2294= 1USD) That doesn't seem very much to Westerners, but to a mom who needs to buy food, water, pay for rent etc. That is a significant amount of money, especially when she only makes 2,ooo USH a day or sometimes for a week. It is hard to draw the line between when helping is hindering the ability to provide for their family and when they truly need the help. (Picture to right- this is part of Blessed's family's land in the village).

A woman came through backpackers travelling from South Africa to Ethipoa, she was in her 70's. She mentioned a book about charity helping or hindering in Africa. She couldn't remember the exact title so if someone knows of it let me know. Walking down the streets here some people as well as kids expect a hand out from Westerners. I feel that since there has been so much involvement of Westerners just providing, not teaching, then leaving then that has become the expecation of all Westerners. I am glad that our ATECOP program is about giving the tools to the community to help themselves and not depend on Western volunteers. What will happen when Westerners decide Africa no longer needs help or is unable to help? Does this mean that the White infrastructure that has been built will fall? Or have Africans been given the tools to continue?

Back From Kabale

Oligambach? (I should ask for the spelling but Whats up Blog readers?) Kabale is beautiful!!!! It looks like Oregon and the climate is similar.

The purpose of the trip to Kabale was to see if Zach (one of the babies in Acacia Tree Uganda's care) would be able to be back with his father. However, when we approached Zach's dad with Zach and Blessed asked in chiga(sp yet again) whether the boy would be taken care of if back with the father, his father essentially said "why did you bring me this boy?" So his father agreed to adoption.

Acacia Tree Uganda really wants the babies to go home and be with their families after reciving care. That is the ultimate goal.

There are limited resources available for the father and he has to take care of Zach's older sibling. The sibling is being sponsored by an organization Compassion, that provides school fees. So at least the sibling is recieving food from school.

So our days in Kabale were long. There was a lot of waiting around for govt. officials to show up or get out of meetings. We needed to get a care order so Robin has legal documentation to care for and get Zach adopted to a family.

When writing our program sping term for Acacia Tree Uganda I can really see where incentives are needed when completing modules. There are very limited resources for these families living in poverty. If there are incentives to finish a module then it is more likely that the parents will stick with the program. However, when parents are HIV+ it adds another dimension to care. The parents are probably not on ARVs and I think that some education resource on where to obtain free ARVs is needed as well as a way of transport. I have noticed that even if people have the information on where to get things, they often lack a means of transport.

On another note I stayed in the village with Blessed's family!!! It felt like I met over 100 people. They were very happy that a Muzungu came to visit their village and would sleep in their house. I used a pit latrine and there wasn't any electricity or running water. I was eaten by mosquitos! All that was fine and felt like camping. I got the feeling that they felt Wsterners are somehow better than they are and that we deserve the best when staying. However, I felt like they should be praised for their extrodinary ability to survive and provide for their family by not being lazy and going to dig Irish for food and money. I felt privleged that they would accept me into thier family so openly.

I just got back today, so I will try and get some pictures up the next couple of days, but no gurantees, we get twins tomorrow!

I rode a boda boda

Today I rode a Boda Boda!!! They are just motorcycles or bigger vespas that are used sort of like taxis. Really you can get around everywhere in Entebbe on them for about 1,ooo USH. They aren't that scary but you do have to tell them to let you off or they will keep going! I mostly got the boda thos morning because I ate breakfast at backpackers. African time is much slower, expect you food in half hour to an hour.

The little girl who I usually buy my bananas from is sick. Her mom was tending to the stand today. Apparently, the girl told her I was her American friend.

The babies were restless today and weren't very happy most of the day. Good thing for nap time. Most of the day was spent changing diapers. However, next week I am going with Blessed to Kibale to do a home visit for one of the babies. Blessed is from Kibale and is worried that I am not use to sleeping on the ground, using a latrine, and washing outside on some stones. I told her that it would be fine and that is how camping goes in the U.S. sometimes. She probably thinks I am use to those amenities, but really it would be fine. So I am going to stay in a hotel those three days.

The past three days

I am trying to get pictures up. I will eventually but the internet is a little spotty. The picture above is outside my room.

Robin's girls are bundles of energy and don't really ever stop. Robin and I talked about my role and what I feel comfortable doing. The most important agenda item is to make chages to the program written for class, AcaciaTree Education and Community Outreach Program. She has moved toward the model outlined in the program but hasn't fully implemented it. It is a struggle to get people to adhere to a program when they sometimes are not mentally or financially able to provide food for their babies. So a lot of my job will be to work with Blessed and decide how the program needs to change to be more culturally competent as well as attainable. I will get to see how these goals can be reached when I go with Blessed to do home visits in the village.

Secondly, I need to help Robin get organized. An excel spreadsheet as well as scanning all paperwork into the computer will give her a backup system when she can't find a document when the probation officer is waiting.

Third, I think that I will be helping her with the becoming a Ugandan NGO. She has non-profit status in the U.S. not in Uganda.

Fourth, I play with babies and change them. I will follow the process of one baby for eight weeks. This will also give Robin a way to track progress. I will make a feeding chart and a way to track feeding times for each baby.

That is it in a nutshell.

I am here!

I arrived in Entebbe Friday night around 9pm. I almost missed my plane in Brussels, but I had two minutes to spare when I got to the gate. Whew!!! That was close. I would have had to stay a day in Brussels airport. However, the ride over wasn't that bad. I had Air Canada until Brussels. They are the best airline. I watched the social network and Eat Pray Love. Their seats are really comfortable and I slept for about 4-5 hours during the trip.

The people I sat with were extremely nice and fairly chatty. The thing about going through Canada is that you get to listen to all the instructions in French and sit next to people who want to chat. I met a guy from the UN who lives in Entebbe and was really helpful with tips about the city. I also sat with a girl who works in Kampala. It seems they sat all us Entebbe people together. Which gave me a chance to pick their brains. This lovely Irish woman I was sitting next to from Brussels to Entebbe lives in Nairobi and was just the most fun chat, good since it was a 7 hour flight.

When I stepped off the plane a sweet smell filled my nostrils and the moist air goosed my skin. The air here is a little addicting. Come to Entebbe and you will not want to leave juat becasue of the sweet air. It hasn't been very hot and mostly cloudy with a few let ups so the sun could shine through. I didn't sleep very much the first night becasue of all the new sounds of crickets and animals around the guesthouse, I also think a wee bit of jet lag. I was up at 5:20 with the rooster and 5:30 for the call to prayer. Then as it gets lighter the birds start in and bodas start roaring by. By the way there is no set speed limit. So I was up and ready to enjoy my first Ugadnan meal . A German girl who I met the night before joined me for breakfast and gave suggestions. I ate chipatti, a bread made without egg and a fried egg. It was absolutly delicious. There are a few mango trees at Backpackers and we split the most sweet mango. I don't think I will enjoy fruit in the states any longer.

My next goal for the day was to get a phone and sim card. I walked to the main road when a Romanian girl was looking for the phone store as well. We joined forces and began to the phone store. We got a little distracted and ended up at the ZOO. Then we finally made it to the MTN store. for $25 (2294 Ugandan shillings= $1 USD) I got a phone, sim card (sold seprately from the phone) and 20,000 airtime minutes. Then we exchanged some money in Entebbe town and looked at the shops. We went back to our hostel and hotel and planned to meet up for the beach later on.

We met out on the road and set off for the beach. We hadn't decided which beach yet, but we were joined by an 11 year old who would help us decide. Peace met the Romanian girl earlier and helped her before in the morning. So they were already friends. Peace taught us about the schooling system and talked about her schooling on the way to the Imperial Beach.

On the weekends there is an entrance fee for the beach and food is pretty expensive. We paid for Peace to join us becasue she wanted to swim and she had already asked permission from her parents. So we laid out on a very popular beach and met a lot of people. Ugandans are very firendly and passerbys will ask say "good morning, hello" followed by "how is your day?" your response is always "Good morning, hello good. How are is your day?" This is unusual in the States but is very nice. Peace swam and made new friends and danced with them while we talked with a British woman, who talked of her film work in the Sudan. The sun was setting and Peace let us know that it was time to go. Which was good since once twilight hits a different type of crowd hits the beach, if you know what I mean ;)

Peace left us once we reached her house and was eager to give her email address. We ate Matooke, smashed plantain, and chicken. It was pretty good.

Today was the biggest day. I met Robin and her family. She runs the baby home where I will be doing my internship. She also hooked me up with another baby home on Mondays and Saturdays and possibly USAIDS. So I am very excited to learn multiple ways of running a baby home. I also can't wait to see how Western views and ideals can't be accomplished but find another option that is accessible to Ugandans.

Okay I will leave some to write another day.